An Initial Offering To Face You

Perhaps it was the angle of teeth in the light,
or the trip-up of the circle’s continuous orbit about itself,
or the new sound of freedom blaring in a metallic 17 second
clank that convinced the slack-jaws that a bad man’s
life is fun to lead. But they left a note by the bed,
a monster of 21 faces scribbled and laughing
at how much we left at the table when we decided
to poke our way to friendship. Fast years bloom
into an addendum of time with aggregate
crystals spilling before me — I can even count
how many people care about my birthday!

I’d like to whisper to you again,
but the past 20 years trained me
to forget all the passwords.

-C.S. Henderson